9.10.10
Self
Everyday I only see myself in dark place that no one would want to hear nor see. I sit and laid idle, lost in time. Everyones cheerful smiles I have to vision seems fade and blurred. The days heads on when I stop closed into myself. Burden and hatred fills within me that only smokes appears my breath. I'm locked in time that I struggle to see myself, me who could change from a blink of an eye. My words spoken but in a different voice and stings that pull my heart. I lie idle without a voice to command my own, bearing every thought I can't do on my own. Without a release I suffer on silence and the hurt that I done to myself bears the marks of hating myself. I know that I can change, but every change that I want stops me with a sound. I do bruise and bleed but no one can see the damage in the dark place that I lead.
25.2.10
What you need to know.
Prices
So... you about to buy a ticket to Japan, now what? I have to say depending on the time of travelling there, it will be expensive at Christmas/New years, summer time in June-August and whatever Japanese festival holiday they have. So... Cheapest is non-holiday season, I mostly went in Summer (June-July) which cost me roughly in the £600 range (cheapest £560 last time I got mine). So, check on the season you go, out of holiday season it will be about £300. So there's quite a difference. If you choose to venture with a tour guide, I think it's slightly cheaper since that it's a package. But if you plan to go independently either on your own or with mates be prepared to have some sort of back-up because it's slightly expensive country to be in. So save as much as you can in the £500+ mark, depending on whether you are buying stuff over there or travelling on transport to other places.
Trip/itinerary
Everything before hand, you have to sort out a place to sleep during your stay and plan on what you want to do in your travel. I can't stress enough people who haven't have a clue upon arriving, so just write down a list of interest and places that you like. The internet is full of information to pin-point your place of interest. I pretty much research on the area first and follow up what places/events are there during that time. Japan has quite alot of festivals because they don't have much seasonal holidays the rest of the world, eg. like in the UK we have Easter or US have Thanksgiving, etc. So the one way they have holidays are to have festivals. Which is a great opportunity to sample the culture without any offence, just a simple fun festival to enjoy your time there. I missed the Hanabi 花火 (fireworks) display which I'm gutted, really wanted to go and see it at the river side. Search online what events will be held in the time you are in Japan, it's well worth it.
Technology
If you want to phone home, your phone must be 3G, not 2G. The thing that really annoyed me when I first arrived into Japan, my phone didn't work because it was tri-band. So make sure that it's 3G or UTMS compatible along with a sim-card that you can use, preferably a International sim-card. If you're not sure, just check the specs on the IPhone with your phone, if they have roughly the same specs then it's ok to use it in Japan. I guess that using your own home sim-card will be expensive when going aboard... But if you want to cut down a huge bill when you go back home, I would advise to use a International Sim-card. I will link information on a different post about these. Plus on the sim-cards, no tourist can buy a Japanese sim-card, I'm afraid. So tourists can't buy sim-cards like you can normally buy in UK, Hong Kong, etc. Unless, there is another way to get it but you have to register on rental phone/sim-card, which is quite expensive.
So why doesn't Japan allow you to buy sim-cards, they regulate their sim-card user to one person with a Japanese address and bank account meaning people who live in Japan are the only ones. This includes foreigners who work in Japan more than a year can get a Japanese sim number/phone. But there's more to that, some say that it cuts down criminal activity but I'm not sure. I have to look back on that information. Well... on the final thought, I think it's expensive on rental or roaming your home sim number, so I researched on International sim-card that I saw on TV and is actually brilliant to have. I will have to link the site later for this information.
Anything else... oh, there's a tax-free for tourist who buy technical stuff like laptops, cameras, TVs and etc. Just show you're passport clearly stating you are a tourist and happy buying. Make sure that it's more than ¥10,001 (roughly £100) otherwise you will have to pay the 5% consumption tax. Another thing on passports, always take it with you. Just in case that the police will stop you if you look suspicious. LOL! (¬...¬ )
Forms/laws
First thing you have to do is fill out forms, you get these on the plane when you are in flight. mostly one for customs (stuff that you bring into the country like cigarettes, perfume, etc.), one for visitation (Officials like to know where bouts you are staying/going), and the other was health (the time I went it was swine flu it hit the news bady). Bear in mind they need this information cos they are like that very strict on their laws, so abide by them cos the next time you will go back there's a mini record and will take note on anything law breaking. For example if you got reported by someone like disrupting the neighbourhood by talking in the streets and got taken in to Police. That would be on file... no matter how small it is they would be considering on stuff. But mind you... it's rumour that I hear stories of shunned entry. So... have that in mind and don't break the law.
Money
The money is easy to to sort out but beware it's an expensive place to be especially the travelling side of it. (in the middle of typing.)
So... you about to buy a ticket to Japan, now what? I have to say depending on the time of travelling there, it will be expensive at Christmas/New years, summer time in June-August and whatever Japanese festival holiday they have. So... Cheapest is non-holiday season, I mostly went in Summer (June-July) which cost me roughly in the £600 range (cheapest £560 last time I got mine). So, check on the season you go, out of holiday season it will be about £300. So there's quite a difference. If you choose to venture with a tour guide, I think it's slightly cheaper since that it's a package. But if you plan to go independently either on your own or with mates be prepared to have some sort of back-up because it's slightly expensive country to be in. So save as much as you can in the £500+ mark, depending on whether you are buying stuff over there or travelling on transport to other places.
Trip/itinerary
Everything before hand, you have to sort out a place to sleep during your stay and plan on what you want to do in your travel. I can't stress enough people who haven't have a clue upon arriving, so just write down a list of interest and places that you like. The internet is full of information to pin-point your place of interest. I pretty much research on the area first and follow up what places/events are there during that time. Japan has quite alot of festivals because they don't have much seasonal holidays the rest of the world, eg. like in the UK we have Easter or US have Thanksgiving, etc. So the one way they have holidays are to have festivals. Which is a great opportunity to sample the culture without any offence, just a simple fun festival to enjoy your time there. I missed the Hanabi 花火 (fireworks) display which I'm gutted, really wanted to go and see it at the river side. Search online what events will be held in the time you are in Japan, it's well worth it.
Technology
If you want to phone home, your phone must be 3G, not 2G. The thing that really annoyed me when I first arrived into Japan, my phone didn't work because it was tri-band. So make sure that it's 3G or UTMS compatible along with a sim-card that you can use, preferably a International sim-card. If you're not sure, just check the specs on the IPhone with your phone, if they have roughly the same specs then it's ok to use it in Japan. I guess that using your own home sim-card will be expensive when going aboard... But if you want to cut down a huge bill when you go back home, I would advise to use a International Sim-card. I will link information on a different post about these. Plus on the sim-cards, no tourist can buy a Japanese sim-card, I'm afraid. So tourists can't buy sim-cards like you can normally buy in UK, Hong Kong, etc. Unless, there is another way to get it but you have to register on rental phone/sim-card, which is quite expensive.
So why doesn't Japan allow you to buy sim-cards, they regulate their sim-card user to one person with a Japanese address and bank account meaning people who live in Japan are the only ones. This includes foreigners who work in Japan more than a year can get a Japanese sim number/phone. But there's more to that, some say that it cuts down criminal activity but I'm not sure. I have to look back on that information. Well... on the final thought, I think it's expensive on rental or roaming your home sim number, so I researched on International sim-card that I saw on TV and is actually brilliant to have. I will have to link the site later for this information.
Anything else... oh, there's a tax-free for tourist who buy technical stuff like laptops, cameras, TVs and etc. Just show you're passport clearly stating you are a tourist and happy buying. Make sure that it's more than ¥10,001 (roughly £100) otherwise you will have to pay the 5% consumption tax. Another thing on passports, always take it with you. Just in case that the police will stop you if you look suspicious. LOL! (¬...¬ )
Forms/laws
First thing you have to do is fill out forms, you get these on the plane when you are in flight. mostly one for customs (stuff that you bring into the country like cigarettes, perfume, etc.), one for visitation (Officials like to know where bouts you are staying/going), and the other was health (the time I went it was swine flu it hit the news bady). Bear in mind they need this information cos they are like that very strict on their laws, so abide by them cos the next time you will go back there's a mini record and will take note on anything law breaking. For example if you got reported by someone like disrupting the neighbourhood by talking in the streets and got taken in to Police. That would be on file... no matter how small it is they would be considering on stuff. But mind you... it's rumour that I hear stories of shunned entry. So... have that in mind and don't break the law.
Money
The money is easy to to sort out but beware it's an expensive place to be especially the travelling side of it. (in the middle of typing.)
Holiday to Japan?
I got bored, so I decided to talk about Japan. I love going there... It's quite an experience, the first was when my bro paid a trip for me to go for 3 weeks ish. It was great. I couldn't get enough and didn't feel like leaving but had to. It took a while for me to save up and go back again 5 years later in 2009 with some mates that I met online.
So... why bother write about it... well. I pretty much enjoyed it soo much with no problems I thought that it wouldn't be nice to help out people who really want to go and don't have that much information on what to do and get around. I have the booklets of places that I went and explored in places. LOL! I saved alot and it took alot of weight in my luggage. My mates thought I was mad to keep them since some of them used them and chuck them away in the bin. The booklets will either be written on or ripped to shreds because I just shoved them in my bag or constantly using them, so sorry about that.
I have to say, hopefully some random person who wants information could feel at ease when walking around the places that I've been going to. There's a few that I would avoid because either 1. I haven't been there or 2. It's not a place that I would venture cos it has no interest to me. So, it's a mixture depending on where you want to go when reading the stuff that I'm posting. I'm more towards walks to temples, games/anime related and random things. Most of the random places are now in my backlogged list of places that I wanted to go the next time that head back (which will be some time).
So I hope that it will help someone that are heading over there for a holiday or needs information on stuff. I have to note that I ventured on my own, mostly meaning that I wasn't with a tour guide or package holiday so it's different experience. Even if you are with a tour guide you can still go out for a while but make sure that it's possible to have the time to venture the area and not breaking the rules or lose track of the rest of the journey.
I will have notes of places, have scans that can look at and post up links of the place as well. I just hope that it will be useful and help enjoy the trip with a little extra. (^u^ )
-----------------------------------------
Roughly what the posts contains.
1. What you need to know - The vital information that you should need before heading over there.
2. Places
Tokyo
Kyoto
Osaka
Sapporo
This is in the editing/working process
So... why bother write about it... well. I pretty much enjoyed it soo much with no problems I thought that it wouldn't be nice to help out people who really want to go and don't have that much information on what to do and get around. I have the booklets of places that I went and explored in places. LOL! I saved alot and it took alot of weight in my luggage. My mates thought I was mad to keep them since some of them used them and chuck them away in the bin. The booklets will either be written on or ripped to shreds because I just shoved them in my bag or constantly using them, so sorry about that.
I have to say, hopefully some random person who wants information could feel at ease when walking around the places that I've been going to. There's a few that I would avoid because either 1. I haven't been there or 2. It's not a place that I would venture cos it has no interest to me. So, it's a mixture depending on where you want to go when reading the stuff that I'm posting. I'm more towards walks to temples, games/anime related and random things. Most of the random places are now in my backlogged list of places that I wanted to go the next time that head back (which will be some time).
So I hope that it will help someone that are heading over there for a holiday or needs information on stuff. I have to note that I ventured on my own, mostly meaning that I wasn't with a tour guide or package holiday so it's different experience. Even if you are with a tour guide you can still go out for a while but make sure that it's possible to have the time to venture the area and not breaking the rules or lose track of the rest of the journey.
I will have notes of places, have scans that can look at and post up links of the place as well. I just hope that it will be useful and help enjoy the trip with a little extra. (^u^ )
-----------------------------------------
Roughly what the posts contains.
1. What you need to know - The vital information that you should need before heading over there.
2. Places
Tokyo
Kyoto
Osaka
Sapporo
This is in the editing/working process
30.3.09
*sigh*
Hmm.... having soo much money troubles that it's slightly stressful. Even though it's slow money earning, I have to try out anything that would help me. Through surveys and searches.
Hmm.... now I'm like travelling quite abit this year... needed a break from everything here it's really annoying.
So please support me but clicking and searching using the link... I'm like poor and need help. Even better join up. If it's available in your country.
Hmm.... now I'm like travelling quite abit this year... needed a break from everything here it's really annoying.
So please support me but clicking and searching using the link... I'm like poor and need help. Even better join up. If it's available in your country.
9.3.09
New year = no money
Man... I can't believe that I have no money now. The wages are declining and I'm buying stuff that isn't mine.
I have to some up abit but so far it's not that much. Three plane tickets and it's like annoying, on top got to pay for my dawg's meds. (TT___TT ) *sigh* really should check up online about stuff.
I have to some up abit but so far it's not that much. Three plane tickets and it's like annoying, on top got to pay for my dawg's meds. (TT___TT ) *sigh* really should check up online about stuff.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
